A file documenting my experiences, emotions and achievements on a monthly basis.

Wednesday, 24 December 2014

One of the Billion

Its an unfortunate thing to have the
occasional longing to be disassociated from your traced blood. But if you have
ever visited the crowded, cacaphonous cities in China, such as the cities of
Zhengzhou, Xian and Guangzhou of which I have just returned from, you may have
an idea. From the complete disregard for order upon queuing, little no no sense
of personal space, horrific inequality in income and the overall indulgence of
greed at the expense of social welfare, health, and the environment.

Of course all of these traits can
definitely be summarily explained, and in no way really degrades the heart of
the nation or its people. And again perhaps I'm holding my fellow citizens to a
higher standard, indeed I want positive perceptions to reflect on my “kind” as
well, if you may. Indeed everything does have its logical explanation. The
concentration of people into the cities for people to find work has lead to
congestion and general administrative services buckling at the knees, with one
naturally wanting to accelerate the process; hence line skipping. As income
inequality rises the poorer and middle class increasingly look enviously onto
their wealthier peers, and the disparity urges on illicit and generally
distasteful means to accrue income, hence their twisted barters. This one also
has basis in the general frugality of many Asian cultures. Coming out of a
truly communist nation in the 80's China's rapid surge to its current roaring
economy has been paved with environmental damage, and certainly disregard for
its social welfare and health system. They simply haven't experienced this kind
of wealth before, and they're hooked on it like no Opium stash could ever do.

But at least in this current day, as
Chinese nationals increasingly travel abroad, their reputation as a people only
spoils more and more heavily in the eyes of the international community. It
undermines the great work that migrants have done in developed nations all over
the world. Indeed at first glance very little distinguishes a Malaysian Indonesian
from a Chinese, and it is all too easy to paint an entire nation with the same,
misinformed brush. Just ask any moderate Muslim on the unwelcome association to
terrorism our media is all too inclined to imply.

I realise I may be complaining over a first
world, rather trivial problem. And you would be most certainly right. In a
nation of over a billion people, problems will inevitably arise as the cramped
conditions and overpopulation lead to frustrations, excessive competition and
cabin fever. These are just the thoughts that I am having here and now. I may
one day wake up mature and uncaring of this perception. Soon.